textproduct: Amarillo

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 1206 PM CDT Sat Jul 18 2026

- Isolated to scattered showers and a few thunderstorms through the weekend favoring the southern Panhandles.

- Triple-digit temperatures return next week.

SHORT TERM

(This evening through Sunday night) Issued at 1206 PM CDT Sat Jul 18 2026

Upper level ridging persist over the central to western CONUS. A weak H5 low has been sitting over the combined Panhandles since yesterday. Today, this low will retrograde westward adding some PVA to help with some lift today. Mid level moisture is persisting as well with the added upper level support form this low shifting may create slightly better coverage in afternoon thunderstorms compared to the last couple of days. Will continue with a 20 to 30 PoP for this afternoon for much of the area. There will still be quite a bit of area of the combined Panhandles that will still not received any beneficial rainfall today, despited the potential increased scattered coverage. Some of the storms that do form may tap into a modest 500 to 1000 J/Kg of CAPE. With the weak steering flow in place, slow moving storms may be able to create some localized nuisance flooding but should not be a major issue unless one of these were to stall over Amarillo and create urban flooding. Otherwise some lightning and strong wind gusts up to 50 to 55 mph will be the main threats this afternoon as the mid levels remain too warm for hail growth without better instability and shear.

Tomorrow, the H5 weak low will move off and the Panhandles should see a lack of lift once again limiting PoPs to 15 or less across the southern TX Panhandle. Temperatures will continue to stay some what moderate in the 90s for the afternoon. Enjoy the benign weather before triple digits come in next week.

LONG TERM

(Monday through next Friday) Issued at 1206 PM CDT Sat Jul 18 2026

Though ridging stays in place, the center of the mid to upper level high pressure positions itself over the combined Panhandles leading to H5 height rises next week. This will lead to warming temperatures with Amarillo potentially seeing triple digits (100-102) Tuesday through Friday. This also means that areas like PDC are under the threat for Heat Advisories and impacts to park goers, such as closed trails. Under this high pressure precip chances will remain low to non-existant.

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1206 PM CDT Sat Jul 18 2026

VFR conditions are expected to prevail with primarily southerly winds less than 15 kts. Isolated to maybe scattered thunderstorms may form this afternoon after 20Z across the combined Panhandles. Due to the low confidence in KAMA getting impacted by thunder, no mentions have been made at this time. Do note that winds may shift and pick up when convection starts, creating outflow boundaries and last through dusk.

AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

TX...None. OK...None.